We have launched our first Above The Line whisky advertising campaign, ‘English for Whisky,’ reinforcing its position as the best-selling English whisky in the UK and as a leading New World whisky. The new ATL campaign supports the recent expansion of The Cotswolds Distillery in response to the increased demand for premium English whisky and Cotswolds Signature Single Malt in particular. Earlier this year the distillery opened a second distillery on its 14-acre site dedicated to malt whisky production which makes us the largest producer of English whisky. We have secured national li ..read more

Before the much loved London Dry Gin took center stage, the Dutch Genever was drunk across all of England and continental Europe. The 1616 is our nod to the traditional distilling process in the era of Shakespearean England, originally in commemoration of the 400 years since his passing. Genever was made from a mix of grains, such as wheat, barley and rye which were fermented and distilled to create "malt wine", which was then redistilled with botanicals.  The final composition of the Genever would vary depending on the preferences of the distiller. Creating an ‘old’ or ‘oude’ Genever, or ..read more

Welcome to the Enchanting Cotswolds A region renowned for its picturesque landscapes quaint villages, and rich heritage. Nestled amidst this idyllic setting lies the Cotswolds Distillery a haven for spirits enthusiasts seeking exceptional experiences and extraordinary flavours. In partnership with StayCotswold, we invite you to embark on an unforgettable journey through this remarkable region, immersing yourself in the beauty of the surroundings, exploring local attractions, and indulging in the finest spirits crafted at our distillery. As a special bonus, guests who book accommodation with S ..read more

Our Hearts and Crafts collection takes its name from the ‘heart’ cut of the spirit run during whisky production and the renowned 19th century Arts & Crafts movement which thrived in the Cotswolds and placed great emphasis on traditional craftsmanship, reflecting the values of our distillery. As our founder, Dan Szor explains: ‘The Cotswolds has strong links to the movement and the beautiful charm of the area epitomised the rural, pre-industrial way of life which urban followers of the movement had been longing for. The revolutionary British designer and leader of the movement, William Morr ..read more

It is a truth universally acknowledged that the perfect companion to whisky is a good book. As the evenings begin to draw in, and we find ourselves reaching for a cosy blanket, there is no better way to spend a night than with a glass of golden whisky in one hand and the written word in the other. With spooky season upon us, it seems only natural that this month’s recommended read is a gothic classic: Mary Shelley’s, Frankenstein. Despite its wintry setting and haunting narrative, Mary began to sew the seeds of the novel in the month of May 1816. Mary Godwin as she was then known, had tra ..read more

Have you ever wondered how we named our beautiful copper gin and whisky stills? A lot of time was spent putting forward suggestions, picking them apart and then starting all over again. Many were proposed but only the following were deemed befitting of our stills, and here they are…   Dolly Meet Dolly, our leading lady who works 9-5 making our delicious Cotswolds Dry Gin, aptly named by our tours team after the legendary Dolly Parton. Feel free to break into song next time you're on one of our tours!    Lorelei Before Dolly, there was Lorelei. Once used to make our Cotswolds Dr ..read more

Without wanting to get too technical, it’s all to do with the interaction between compounds in the wood and the water and alcohol in the liquid. You’ve got all sorts of different compounds that will affect the colour of the whisky – tannins come into it, as do sugar-type compounds. When the cask is first made by the coopers, the wood inside is toasted (heated low and slow without igniting the wood) or charred (burnt in high heat for a short blast), or sometimes both. That process caramelises the sugars present in the wood – creating those lovely toffee and caramel flavours so central to whisky ..read more

 ‘I absolutely love the artistry of blending’ says Alice Pearson, Whisky Distillery Manager at our distillery. ‘I always relish the challenge and complexity of creating a new whisky’. Although blending whiskies together is an age-old practice it is the art of finding the right whisky casks which is where the real adventure begins. Alice started working at our distillery working in the shop, helping with tours and bottling before she became a Research and Development Assistant, where she trained for two years honing her senses and developing her talent and skills. She has also recently pas ..read more

    The renowned landscape artist Josephine Trotter has lived in the Cotswolds for 52 years and shares a love of the beautiful rolling countryside which surrounds our distillery. When our founder, Daniel Szor, first decided he wanted to champion local artists with the new Cotswolds Harvest Series, he immediately thought of Trotter. ‘I’ve always admired her impressionistic approach to making Cotswolds landscapes come alive’, says Dan. In her early years Trotter was tutored and mentored by Maurice Feild, a Slade Professor, who encouraged her to paint en plein air. Feild restricted her ..read more

Not only does September herald the start of cooler evenings, shorter days and the end of summer it is also a time to celebrate the start of autumn with glorious sunsets, a riot of colour as the leaves turn golden and the harvest being brought home. To honour the gathering of the harvest we have launched a new Harvest Series Collection. The first limited edition whisky to be released in the collection is Harvest Series Golden Wold, a blend of selected ex-Bourbon, STR red wine and peated casks. Our Founder, Daniel Szor, was first inspired to make whisky whilst looking at the spring bar ..read more